Stitching-machine.



UNITED sTArnsBnann'r OFFICE.

FREDERICK C. CROFTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR'. TO WILLIAM A. PHILPOTT, JIL, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

STITCHING-MAEHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11119 23, 1914.

Application filed September 21,1909. Serial No. 518,748.

To all whom it may conc c'rn Be it known that I, FREDERICK 0. Oscars, a. subject of the King of England, residing at- Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stitching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved stitching machine for connecting the longitudinal edges of tubular blanks by wire staples for producing knockdown cartons. In machines .for this purpose as heretofore constructed the blanks were moved forwardly past the stitching mechanism and after the marginal parts or flaps of the samewere stitched together the blanks were again moved backwardly to clear the device which supported the overlap ping flaps of the carton and the staple clenching plate. This is objectionable inasmuch as the Withdrawal of the stitched blank involves unnecessary handling of the blank and loss of time, thereby reducing the capacity of the machine.

It is the objectof this invention to produce a wire stitching machine for this purpose which avoids the necessity of moving the blanks backwardly after the stitching has been completed and permits the blanks to be fed forward continuously'to the machine thereby expediting the stitching operation and reducing the cost of producing the cartons accordingly.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure 1 1s a. fragmentary ver tical cross section of a stitching machine equipped with my invention, the section being taken in line 1 1, Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the means for supporting the clcncher block. Fig. 3 is a ver tical longitudinal section in line 3--3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sec tion it. line l -4. Fig. 3. Fig. is a fragmentary sectional front View similar to Fig. 1, showing a reversal of the means for supporting the bar which carries the clcncher block.

Similar lctter of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. My invention is applicable to wire stitching machines of various ronstructimis, that shown in the drz'twings cmnprising a horizontal table Ara stitcher head B arranged above the table and containing the wire staple forming mechanism, a main supporting arm (J overhanging the table from one side thereof and supporting the stitcher head, a

pillar D supporting the underside'of the table below the stitcher head and mounted so termediate sections f, f are on one side r. of the tube and the end sections are on the opposite side oi the tube and the'longitudh nal flap 9 of one end section laps over thelongitudinal flap {7 of the other end section. For the purpose of connecting the over lapping edges of the end sections of a. carton the latter is placed with its intermediate sections lowermost on top of the table and moved step by step with its overlapping edges lengthi'vise. forwardly over the table and llll llfilllttltll the lower end of the stitcher 30 head, and during this movement the blank engages one of its longitudinal. outer edges with the gage so as to maintain the overlapping flaps in proper position relatively to the stapling mechanism in the stitcher. 35

head. Upon thus moving the carton past the stitchei' head while the ma'chineis in operation the staples h are forced downwardly through the overlapping flaps of the carton at such intervals as the operator mayelect.

As the legs of the staples pass downwardly below the lowermost one of the overlapping flaps these legs are bent or clenched against the underside of said lower flap by means of a clenchcr plate or block ll arranged below the staple forming a driving mechanism of the clear-her head and between the lower part of the tubular carton and the lower one of its overlapping flaps. This clencher plate secured to the upper side of a fiat 10} horizontal supporting bar J which-is arranged lengthwise abtwe the table and terminates at its rear end below the stitcher head while its front: end is arranged in advance of said head. as shown in Fig. 3. ms

The supporting bar is suspended in front of the stiteher head by a bracket comprising a vertical web 7. arranged lengthwise along the edge of the lower flap and connected with the adjacent longitudinal edge machine comprise 65 of supportin z tubularrcalton forwardly between the table porting bazlJ until the latter bears against har, a horizontal web 1 extending from the upper edge of said verticalsweb toward the edge of said upper fiappand an arm, member or hanger bog? b L preferably arrang vertically and conheated at its lower end with the horizontal web Z; outwardly j, beyond the edge of the upper. flap and secured at its upper end to fthehfront edge of the stitcher head, as lgfls lmwn in Figs, 1 and 3, or any other suitable stati'uoi ary part of the machine.

fine-means 'ust described for supporting bar J wnsldered by. themselves comprise Q tdfsQhorizohtal webl arranged transversely 1.5 above the bar J and parallel therewith, an

web Ic connecting one longitudinal of ithe haul with the corresponding of the horizontalweb Z, and an 11 right er L connected at its lower en with jopposite edge ofthe horizontal web 2 d, connected with the main supporting Cg Itlwillbe noted that by thls means supportlngghe bar J its'front and rear ends are uno tructed rendering it possible {le -feed a cartonwith its flaps in an over- 'llapping position continuously forward relatively to the stapling mechanism without interference, thereby avoiding the liei'essity of moving the carton backwardly atter the stitching of its flaps has been completed. -fPlle supporting bar is constructed of resilient material and is normally arranged at suliicient distance above the table top throughout the length of said bar to permit of freely moving the lower part of the :{top and the supporting bar. When the staple driving mechanism descends, the same depresses the upper and lower carton .llaps together with the rear end of the suplower part of the carton and presses 5150 same against the to of the table, theresupporting-the cleuc er block in position ifi'ggif bendingthe 'legsof the staples which driven downwardly through the carbon 'f tiff-the stspling nxechanism. As soon pressuro of the stapling mechanism is removedjfromithe carton flaps and supportgbar; r rises owing to its resili- 1 1e, thereby" rmitting thebperabor to adnother step preparatory 1, the clencher block sdapted for stapling; cartons in tf ie'p gof 'the uppermost flap faces the gage e. If, however, the carton is to be stitched with the edge of the upper flap facing in the opposite direction, the construction of the bracket is reversed,- as shown-at J, L, l, k in Fig. 5.

I claim as m invcntionz 1. In a machine for stitching overlapping flaps, a guide member for the work comprising a supporting bar, a horizontal web arranged above the supporting bar, a vertical web connecting bne of the longitudinal edges of the horizontal web with the corresponding edge of the supporting bar, and a. hanger connected with the other longitudinal edgeof the horizontal web leaving an web.

2. In a machine for stitching overlapping.

flaps, a. guide member for the work comprising a supportin bar, a horizontal web arranged transverse y above the front part only of the supporting bar, a vertical web connecting the inner longitiidinal edge of the horizontal web and the corresponding edge of the supporting bar, and a hanger connected with the opposite outer edge of the horizontal web leaving an unobstructed space above the horizontal web.

In a machine for stitching overlapping flaps, a guide member for thelwork comprising a supporting bar, a horizontal web arranged transversely above the front part of the supporting bar, a vertical web connecting the inner longitudinal edge of the horizontalwveb and the corresponding edgesupporting bar, a body member connected with the opposite edge of the horizontal web, and a clencher block arranged on the work-supporting bar.

Witness my hand this 10th day of September, 1909.

FREDERICK C. CROFTS. Witnesses:

FRANK I. Monn'roN, WALTER J. Evnano. 

